Girdle



Dec.y 7, 1954 H. M. HERBENl-:R 2,696,001

GIRDLE Filed Feb. 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l j? INVENTOR @Hwy ,M Herben@ ATTOR NE Y DeC 7, 1954 H. M. HERBl-:NER 2,696,001

GIRDLE Filed Feb. 26, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J4? INVENTOR Hemi; MHQJQW ATTORNEY United States Patent O GIRDLE Henry M. Herbener, Thomasville, Ga.

Application February 26, 1-953, Serial No. 338,980

3 Claims. (Cl.` 2-36) stiffening means which will retain the upper portion ofV the -girdle vertically taut in use andl when the upper portion is horizontally stretched;

Afurther object of the invention is to providemeans` which permits of the easy insertion of the stitfening element and allows considerable movement of portions of the stilfening element to accommodate movements of the body.

A further object of the invention is' to provide stiiiening means including a band. made separate fromv the body portion of the girdle and sewed thereto, the body portion and band being at least in part circumferentially elastic so that the strength ofthe band may be selected whereby itV will not increase the tension of the garment at the top.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the resilient stiffening element may be fed into the flexible holding means and formedy into'y generally U-shaped portions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned characterV which will. increase the artistic appearance ofV the garment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and. in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l` is a front perspective view of a girdle ernbodying my invention,

Figurev 2 is a plan View of the same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sideY elevation of the` girdle,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section takenv on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5I is a horizontal section takenl on` line 5 5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 isa fragmentary.'perspectiveview of the band,

Figure 7y is a perspective view of the. band illustrating the manner of introducing the stiftening element: into. the pocket,

Figure 8 is a perspectivek View of a girdle embodying a second form of the invention,

Figure 9 is a plan: view of the girdle,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary inner side elevation of the upper end ofthe girdle,

Figure 1l is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 1111 of Figure 10,

Figure l2 is a horizontal section taken on line 12-12 of Figure l0,

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the girdle, before the flaps are folded' inwardly and downwardly, and,

Figure 14 is a perspective viewy of the stiffening element formed into the U-shaped portion.

In Figures l to 7 inclusive, I have shown the first form of my invention. In these figures, the numeral 1t) designates the bodyf portion of an elastic girdle, which body portion is horizontally and vertically elastic. This body portion` may be woven or knit. The body portion may be unitary or it may be formed. in sections, having front or rear panels. The body portion is at least in part 2,696,001 Patented Dec. 7, 1954i circumferentially elastic and will tend to roll at its top.

Arranged at the top of the body portion 10 is a band 11 which is horizontally and vertically elastic, although it may be only horizontally elastic.

The band may only be horizontally elastic in part, and vertically elastic in part, and the vertical elasticity would be arranged at the back of the girdle. This band may be woven or knit.

The band 11 comprises a lower or inner strip 12 and an upper or outer strip 13, preferably formed integrally. The strip 13 may be folded outwardly upon the strip 12 upon a line 14, although it may be folded inwardly. The strip 13 is cut or formed to provide tapered or U- shaped portions or flaps 15, having reduced rounded portions 16 and 17. When the strip 13 is folded outwardly over the strip 12, the sections or liaps 15 have their marginal edges' stitched tothe strip 12 by a line or lines of zig-zag stitching 18. The sections or iiaps have their lower ends extending substantially to the bottom of the strip 12. The arrangement provides U-shaped pockets 19, the lower ends of which are closed and are spaced from and do not lead into the lower ends of the next pockets. The upper ends of the pockets lead into passages 2t) and the upper ends of all of the pockets may be connected with each other by the passages Ztl.

The band is applied to the top of the body portion 11D` and is secured to this top by a horizontal line of zig-zag stitching 21. The ends of the band are secured together by a line of stitching 21', extending across the passage 20.

It is preferred that the band 11 has a weaker elastic horizontal stretch than the body portion 10. The horizontal stretch of the band 11 is somewhat stiifened when the sections or liaps are sewed in place as portions of the bandwill then have two layers, but it is preferred that the complete two-layer bands have a somewhat weaker elastic strength than the body portion 10 so that the tension of the garment may not be increased at the top.

I provide a resilient stiffening element 22 in the form of coiled wire. This coiled wire is longitudinally straight before it is introduced into the pockets. I also contemplate using a section of uncoiled or plain resilient wire.

The band 11 is preferably sewed to the body portion 10 before the resilient stiifening element 22 is inserted in place. The ends of the band 11 are sewed together at 21 before the strip 13 is folded over the strip 12, and this leaves the passage 20 at the line of stitching 21' open. A short section of the line of stitching 18 may be omitted, preferably near the top of the pocket, thus providing an opening for the insertion of the resilient stiifening element 22. This opening may be at any desired point and is indicated at 20a, Figure 3. The stiftening element 22 may now be threaded through the opening 20a and will extend throughout the several passages 20 throughout the entire length of the band 11, and the trailing end of the stitfening element Z2 will extend to the exterior of the folded band. The leading end of the stiening element 2.2 may be held against movement by any suitable means, such as a clamp. The resilient stiifening element in the leading pocket is now forced downwardly, by hand, since the pocket is exible, and this bends the resilient element into a generally U-shaped element 24. When this occurs, the stiffening element 22 is further drawn or fed through the passages 26. The resilient U-shaped element 24 has sides including inwardly curved or bulging portions 25. U-shaped elements 24 are formed in a similar manner within each of the succeeding pockets 19, and the trailing end of the element 22 is severed and the two ends of the element 22 are suitably connected by any suitable means, including welding, or by clamping them in a short sleeve. lt is thus seen that the stiffening element 22 is formed into the plurality of U-shaped elements 24, which are connected at their upper ends at the passages 29. The U-shaped elements 2d have a vertical length to completely lill the pockets 19, so that they bear against the pockets at their tops and bottoms. These U-shaped elements 24-` are permanently under compression, and since their sides have the inwardly bulging portions 25, these sides are vertically longer than the pockets before the pockets' are vertically stretched. When the pockets are vertically stretched, the bulging portions tend t0 straighten, and hence the U-shaped resilient elements 24 are vertically elongated and continue to bear against the tops and bottoms of the pockets. This is important as it retains the band flat, such as at the back of the garment, when the band vertically stretches upon the forward bending of the body. Further, the resilient U- shaped portions 24 do not interfere with the vertical stretching of the band. Further, when the band is horizontally stretched, as when passing the girdle over the hips, the sides 2S of the U-shaped elements 2-4 will have suiiicient fullness so that the U-shaped elements' 24 will continue to bear against the tops and bottoms of the pockets. The bulging portions 25 provide upper portions 26 of inverted U-shaped portions, which have an increased horizontal length, to promote the convenience or comfort of the wearer. The upper portions 26 are substantially hat, due to compression.

Since the sides of the pockets 19 are only connected at their edges, the bulging side portions 25 are free to move inwardly toward each other for considerable distances. This renders the stilening means highly adjustable to promote the convenience or comfort of the wearer. The several stiifening elements 24 prevent the garment from rolling at its top, and tend to hold the garment close to the body.

In Figures 7 to l2 inclusive, I have shown a second form of girdle, comprising a body portion 27, which is horizontally and vertically elastic. This body portion may be woven or knit and may be unitary, or may embody front and rear panels. The body portion is at least in part circumferentially elastic. At its top, the body portion is provided with a band 23, preferably formed integral therewith. This' band may be folded inwardly over the body portion upon a line 29. The band includes tapered extensions or flaps 30, having rounded ends 3l and 32. The band 28 is folded inwardly over the body portion 27 and is secured thereto by a zig-zag line of stitching 33, at the edges of the extensions or flaps 30, forming pockets 32. The lower ends of these pockets are spaced and separate, while their upper ends are connected by passages 33, formed by parts 34. Since the top of the girdle includes two-layer arrangements, at the pockets, such top may liare slightly or be made slightly larger, so that the tension of the girdle at the top will not be increased with respect to the tension of the girdle beneath the top.

I employ the same resilient stitlening element 22. A portion of the stitching 33 may be omitted, as indicated at 34, providing a passage or opening so that the resilient stiffening element 22 may be extended through the pockets 32 and passages 33. This element 22 is rst threaded through all pockets and passages until its leading end reaches the space or opening 34. This leading end is then held in place by a clamp or the like, and the pocket is depressed, for bending the element 22 into the U-shaped stiiening element 24, having the same inwardly bulging portions 25. The trailing end of the element 22 is then severed and the two ends of the element 22 are secured together by welding or any other suitable means such as inserting them into a short sleeve clamped to such ends. The U-shaped elements 24 have the same action as described in connection with the elements 24, Figure 2.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A girdle comprising a body portion which is horizontally and vertically elastic, a band which is vertically and horizontally elastic carried by the top of the body portion to surround the body near the waist, said band including opposed layers, said opposed layers having substantially horizontal top continuous edges which are connected, the upper connected portions of the opposed layers forming a substantially horizontal continuous passage adjacent to the connected edges, one layer being continuous throughout its vertical dimension and the companion layer being formed to provide downwardly tapered portions extending beneath the continuous passage, the tapered portions being spaced, a longitudinally extensible line of stitching following the edges of the downwardly tapered portions and securing said edges to the continuous companion layer forming spaced downwardly tapered pockets, said line of stitching forming the opposite outer edges of each pocket, each pocket having a pocket chamber extending from one outer edge to the opposite outer edge, the pocket chamber ot each pocket at the top of the pocket chamber leading into the continuous passage throughout the entire horizontal dimension of the pocket chamber, and a continuous resilient stiffening element inserted through the continuous passage and passing into the pockets, said stiffening element forming inverted generally U-shaped portions, each inverted generally U-shaped portion including a top held within the passage and upstanding sides within pockets which are next to each other, said upstanding sides extending throughout the entire vertical dimension of the pockets, said sides being longitudinally curved and spaced inwardly from the outer edges of said pockets, the lower ends of the sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions being connected and such connected ends contacting with the bottoms of the pockets, the sides' of each inverted generally U-shaped portion being slidable within said pockets and providing slack so that the sides vertically elongate when the band is vertically stretched, the inverted generally U-shaped portions being under tension and engaging the top of said band and tending to hold it elevated.

2. A girdle comprising a body portion which is horizontally and vertically elastic, a band which is vertically and horizontally elastic carried by the top of the body portion to surround the body portion near the waist, said band including Opposed layers, said opposed layers having substantially horizontal continuous top edges which are connected, the upper connected portions of the opposed layers' forming a substantially horizontal continuous passage adjacent to the connected top edges, a longitudinally extensible line of stitching connecting said layers beneath the substantially horizontal continuous passage and forming therewith downwardly tapering pockets having opposite outer side edges, each pocket having a chamber which extends at its top from one outer opposite side edge to the other outer opposite side edge, the top of each pocket chamber leading into the continuous passage, and a continuous resilient stifening element inserted through the continuous passage and passing into the pockets', said stiffening element forming inverted generally U-shaped portions, each inverted generally U- shaped portion including a top held within the continuous passage and upstanding sides within the pockets which pockets are next to each other, said upstanding sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions extending throughout the entire vertical dimension of the pockets, said sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions being longitudinally curved and spaced inwardly from the outer opposite side edges, the lower ends of the sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions being connected and such connected ends contacting with the bottoms of the pockets, the sides of each inverted generally U-shaped portion being slidable within said pockets and providing slack so that such sides vertically elongate when the band is vertically stretched, the inverted generally U-shaped portions being under tension and engaging the top of said band and tending to hold it elevated.

3. A girdle comprising a body portion which is horizontally and vertically elastic, a band which is vertically and horizontally elastic carried by the top of the body portion to surround the body portion near the waist, means forming upon the band a substantially horizontal continuous passage at the top of the band and downwardly tapering pockets beneath the continuous passage, each pocket having outer side edges and a unitary pocket chamber extending from one outer side edge to the other outer side edge, the upper end of the pocket chamber leading into the continuous passage, and a continuous resilient stifening element inserted through the continuous passage and passing into the pockets, said stiffening element forming inverted generally U-shaped portions. each inverted generally U-shaped portion including a top held within the continuous passage and upstanding sides within the pockets which pockets are next to each other, said upstanding sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions extending throughout the entire vertical dimension of said pockets, said sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions being longitudinally curved and spaced inwardly from the outer side edges, the lower ends of the sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions being connected and such connected ends contacting with the bottoms of the pockets, the sides of each inverted generally U-shaped portion being slidable within said pockets and providing slack so that the sides of the inverted generally U-shaped portions vertically e1ongate when the band is vertically stretched, the inverted generally U-shaped portions being under tension and engagixg the top of said band and tending to hold it e evate CFI References Cited in the tile of this patent Number Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Beeman Oct. 31, 1893 Hoesen Dec. 22, 1896 Taylor July l, 1902 Amyot Mar. 3, 1942 Murphy Ian. 22, 1952 Metz Feb. 12, 1952 Menz et al. July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 30, 1951 Great Britain June 23, 1938 

